Mt. Whitney

Overview:

Mount Whitney can be summited as a day hike or multi-day backpack trip on the classic Mt. Whitney Trail. Located on the eastside of California’s beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, the trail starts in Inyo National Forest and enters Sequoia National Park, with spectacular views and access to trails that continue deep into the park wilderness. The summit of Mt. Whitney is the southern end of the John Muir Trail. Named for the naturalist, author and early wilderness preservation advocate for preservation of wilderness, the John Muir trail extends more than 200 miles north to reach Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. Whether you are seeking a one day hiking challenge, an overnight ascent, or beginning the trek of your dreams, climbing Mt. Whitney is sure to be a memorable experience.

Starting at 8,300 feet above sea level at Whitney Portal, the Mt. Whitney Trail gains over 6,200 feet of elevation. The trail is usually snow free from July to late September. Specialized equipment and training may be necessary to safely climb when snow or ice is on the trail.

Most day hikers choose the classic Mt. Whitney Trail. The 22-mile round-trip hike will challenge even very fit hikers. Expect to hike 12 to 14 hours to the summit and back. Consider starting before sunrise. Be prepared to hike in the dark.

For the backpacker starting up the Mt. Whitney Trail, some popular camp locations are Lone Pine Lake, Outpost Camp, Consultation Lake and Trail Camp. If you are approaching Mt. Whitney from a different route, you need a different permit. For more about other permits to Mt. Whitney click here
.

Anyone considering other climbing routes should research the difficulty. The approach to the Mountaineers Route is steep, rugged and hard to follow. This route crosses the Ebersbacher Ledges to reach Boy Scout Lakes. Above Iceberg Lake there are several routes of varying technical difficulty. There is not a trail to the summit from this isolated canyon. The Mt. Whitney Trail overnight permit does not give access to the North Fork area. Mountaineers who wish to base camp near Iceberg or Boy Scout Lakes need an overnight permit specifically for the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek Trail.

Visitors to the Mt. Whitney Zone are expected to pack out their solid human waste.

Mt. Whitney Zone Map, click here

A lottery is held February 1 to March 15, followed by open reservations for the remainder of the season. You apply for dates, group size and your preference of day hike or overnight permit. List up to 3 alternate leaders and up to 15 alternate trip choices on one application.

Applications are entered on-line, February 1 through March 15, until midnight Eastern Time.

After March 15, all the applications are processed in one lottery.

April 1 all remaining space opens for web reservations.

April 1- April 30: Accept or decline dates won in the lottery. Complete trip information and pay the $15 per person reservation fee to claim your reservation.

April 30: Deadline to accept and pay reservation fee is midnight Eastern Time, or the reservation will be canceled.

May 1, all remaining unclaimed dates are canceled and released for web reservations.

For more about the lottery, click here.

Cancellations return to the reservation calendar within 24 hours at random times. Space is not saved for walk-in permits. There is no wait list. Reservations can be made until two days before a trip entry date, if space is available.

Trips sponsored by organizations or commercial groups must contact the wilderness permit office before applying for a Mt. Whitney permit.